Congressman Brian J. Mast | Congressman Brian J. Mast Website
Congressman Brian J. Mast | Congressman Brian J. Mast Website
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Brian Mast (FL-21), Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27), and Michael McCaul (TX-10) have called on officials at the U.S. Department of State to explain why taxpayer dollars were used to fund drag show performances targeting Ecuadorian youth. The representatives are demanding transparency and accountability in the disbursement of taxpayer funds.
Chairs of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight & Accountability (Mast) and Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere (Salazar), along with Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee (McCaul), have expressed concern over a $20,600 grant awarded to the Centro Cultural Ecuatoriano Norteamericano Abraham Lincoln. Although the grant was rescinded earlier this year due to public and Congressional backlash, the lawmakers are determined to ensure that future grants are not used for questionable and misguided programming.
In a joint statement, Chairs Mast, Salazar, and McCaul said, "We are committed to ensuring taxpayer dollars are disbursed responsibly and future grants are not used on questionable and misguided programming."
The representatives have sent a letter to Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian A. Nichols and Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Lee Satterfield, requesting further information on the decision to fund the drag show performances. The letter seeks clarity on the internal processes that led to the approval of the grant and raises concerns over the lack of embassy personnel included in the decision-making process.
The representatives also express disappointment that a previous letter sent in January 2023 requesting documents and information on the grant has not received an adequate response. They have streamlined their requests for additional documents and expect answers to specific questions related to the grant funding by September 28, 2023.
The lawmakers are determined to hold the State Department accountable for the use of taxpayer dollars and to prevent similar instances of wasteful spending in the future. They are committed to ensuring that grants are used for programs that align with the interests and values of the American people.
For more information, please read the full text of the letter here.
Links:
- House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight & Accountability
- House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
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